A Disciple’s Path has begun. This Sunday’s adventure will include “A Journey of Amazing Grace.” James Harnish defines grace this way:  “Grace is the undeserved, unearned, unrepayable  gift of the God who loves us enough to meet us where we are, but loves us too much to leave us there. Grace is the love of God at work within us to transform each of our lives into a unique expression of the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ, so that we become participants in God’s participants in God’s transformation of the world.” Come find out more on Sunday.

April 15 Pastor Kay will begin a SERMON SERIES CALLED THE DISCIPLES PATH  “Follow me!”  10 am

Saturday, May 12 at 10:30 a.m. United Methodist Women Mad Hatter’s Tea,

Easter Sunday, April 8 Service at 10 a.m. and  Brunch Easter, at  11:30 a.m.

Feb 19th Service:  Kay Hobbs Shock    Soldotna United Methodist Church, Soldotna, Alaska
Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday…I’ll be preaching on the phrase Peter utters as he sees Jesus in his glory: “It is good for us to be here!” Oh, I think it WILL be good for us to be here, and I hope to see you!

 Kay Hobbs Shock   Letter from Pastor Kay         January 15, 2012
Dear Friends,
January marks the half-way point of my time with you here at Soldotna UMC.  We have had a grand six months and we have much to celebrate.
I expect the next six to be just as exciting and full of the Spirit’s surprises, if not more so.
As your interim pastor, my first task has been to help you think about your past and celebrate your history. Along with the celebrations also comes honestly facing and claiming any negatives that have been a part of your past together. As we move forward this second part of our year together, we will begin to envision and prepare for the future God is planning for SUMC. 
Some of you have heard that I was offered the possibility of staying another year. After much prayer, I have come to the decision that I must limit my stay with you to the original “one year.” I have grown to love you. You have gotten into my heart and into my blood. But I must be true to the Holy Spirit and to my covenant with my husband.
A lot of work remains. I am looking forward to what lies before us. God will bring new people into our midst, God will give us new vision, new challenges, new inspiration, lots of joy, and. . .I know we will share lots more fellowship meals! 
God bless you for your faith and commitment to God’s Church at Soldotna. God bless you for your support of my ministry with you. Let us continue to give our hearts to “Proclaiming Christ as we are faithful in doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God.
Sincerely,    Rev. Kay Shock

   January 13, 2012

I would like to start a new study group in February but I don’t know what day or time of day to offer it. If you are interested, would you please let me know? Sunday before or after church? Wednesday evening. Monday or Tuesday morning. Some other time?

 Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade Sale will be hosted by Soldotna United Methodist Church on Friday,  November 26, 8-4 and Saturday, November 27, 10-4. Additionally there will be items for sale right after church on Sunday, November 28. Proceeds will be returned to the program.

You are also invited to a special preview sale, Tuesday, November 23, 5:30 – 8, for a $5 donation that will be used for local mission projects.

It’s a great opportunity to shop for beautiful and unique art and crafts from around the world. Artisans are paid a living wage and the proceeds are returned to the program. Fair trade chocolate will also be available.

Help will be needed to set-up, staff during the sale, and pack up at the end. Talk to Susie (283-7469) to volunteer.

E-News is available for : April 3, 2012, 2012

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM PASTOR KAY:

If you weren’t in worship on Sunday, you missed a miracle.   As I wrote about it in my journal this morning, I noticed the scripture at the top of the page: Proverbs 11:24 NLT ” The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be
refreshed.”

I celebrate God! And I celebrate generous people like you who responded to a need in EPIC proportions. At the end of worship, my head was spinning, my heart was full and I had a handful of cash that will help not one family, but TWO who desperately
need it. I didn’t ask for it. I certainly didn’t plan it. It happened because one humble man, new to our congregation, brought forward a wrinkled $10 bill, saying “I don’t have much, but I want to help. Maybe the congregation will add to this.”

You certainly did. That one act of unselfish compassion set a ball rolling that continues this week, as men from our church will cut and provide truckloads of wood, help winterize a drafty living space and share the love of God in true fashion. In case you
don’t know it, God is at work in our midst. Yesterday we went from being at church, to being the Church.

May you be refreshed, renewed with God’s Holy Spirit. Do it again, Lord! Do it again! Let us be your vessels of hope, love, compassion, justice, mercy. Use me, use us. “Let it be with me according to your will.”

THE JOURNEY begins….and continues….as we sweep into Advent with great expectations.

THE JOURNEY: Walking the Road to Bethlehem with Adam Hamilton begins November 20! There will be 5 sessions. The Sunday small group will meet in the Adult Sunday School room (multi-purpose room) from 9 – 9:45 a.m.

 I am hoping that others of you will consider hosting a small group in your home. The books are available for $15 each, but are not required.  If you are interested in hosting a small group please contact pastor Kay at 262-4657, 262-4958 or 529-5128.
 
In this program, Adam Hamilton travels with us via DVD from Nazareth to Bethlehem in this fascinating look at the birth of Jesus Christ. Using historical information, archaeological findings, and personal reflections, Hamilton illuminates this most amazing moment in history. We follow the footsteps of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and others, gaining insight into our own journeys with Christ.
 
Using this series, we can touch people deeply. We can bring new members into our church. We can remind people about the birth of Jesus and what it means to each of us. And we can help the members of our church and community grow together by providing a place where all of us can learn together.

Great Expectations

Okay, we’ll get this out in the open. I’m a Newbie.  I’m the New Kid on the Block.   I’m not new to Alaska – my husband and I have lived here 11 years. But I am new to Soldotna and the Kenai area. I am the new pastor of the Soldotna United Methodist Church, and…. I’m having a great time!  

Being new can be stressful. There are new people to meet, new faces to recognize, new names to learn (lots of them!),  new “traditions” to get familiar with and, yes, there are always “unwritten” rules and great expectations.

Everyone has them. Those rules that aren’t written down anywhere, but everyone expects the newcomer to know.  “But we’ve always done it that way” and “EVERYONE knows that we have that meeting in that room every Tuesday!”  It’s hard on a newcomer. It can be hard on the new pastor.  It’s like every new person in town or in a church or group should come fully downloaded with the upgrade “How It’s Done Around Here.”

A Newbie like me has lots of questions. “Where’s the best place for pizza? For burgers? For coffee? (Actually, I already have some great answers to those questions!) Where is the phone company? Where is the bank? The cleaners? What’s going on? Where do we go? How do we get there?

I’m really enjoying living in Soldotna. I have been here since the first of July. I have experienced the wild Soldotna SUMMER. And now I am easing in to the more laid back fall season. A lot of people whose names and faces I carefully placed in this aging memory bank are now gone – back to their winter home in Arizona or California or Florida or some other warm place.

But people in this community have been very friendly and helpful so far. It may be different in the fall. In the summer, you have the tourists to blame. Later on, it’s all up to the locals!

Now, the reason I’m whining a little bit is simply to make this point: We need to learn better how to welcome people…especially in the church. Coming to a new church for the first time can be very uncomfortable and, even, frightening. The questions here are: Will I fit in? What should I wear? Will  I be accepted? Will I know what to do? Where do I park? What door do I enter? Where do I sit? When do I stand? What hymnal do we use? (Hey! We don’t know these songs!) Will people overwhelm me? Will I be ignored? Will I have to hold hands or something? And WHERE is that restroom? Where is the nursery? Who will be taking care of my children? Are they safe? What if there is an emergency? Who do I ask…how do I know?

I know: I think we’ll just stay home and watch tv. 

I’m praying for my congregation to take a new look around to see if we can open our hearts and our doors and our minds a little wider. I hope we will make church a little more accessible, a little easier to navigate, a little more Newbie friendly. It’s not that we are marketing anything. It’s that we believe we have something of worth, and we want to share it. It’s natural for humans to make little rituals and habits and ruts out of things we do. It’s how we make ourselves comfortable. But what makes us comfortable can often lead to building invisible walls and barriers. I know that we really don’t want that. We are called to be hospitable…to welcome the stranger…to love our neighbor. It’s everyone’s job, not just the pastor’s or the elders, or the deacons or the lay leader’s. We have joy to share. We have a message to tell. It’s important that we each invest ourselves in the ministry of Welcoming.

 And in case you are new around here, welcome to Soldotna!

Harvest Dinner Oct 2011

dishwashing helpers Oct 2011

  E-NEWS ,  Now available for  October 14, 2011

Men cutting brush and dead trees from church and parsonage.  see photo’s            *See  Photo added.

There is a lot of JOY at Soldotna United Methodist church! It is a good place to be.
And by the way, The sermon on Sunday, July 24 is from Ephesians 1:15-2:10 — “Where Do I Sit?”.
The Gospel reading is John 14:1-3.

A letter from our new pastor, Kay Shock 7/11

Dear SUMC Congregation and Friends,

I retired last year. But, as somebody said to me this year at conference, “You flunked.”

Not really. I knew as soon as the opportunity came via the call of David Beckett, our District Superintendent, to pastor the Soldotna church for a year, it was something I really wanted to do. I knew deep in my heart it was “a call of God.” Dave said he never had anyone say “Yes” so fast.

Later when Dave and I discussed some of his expectations for the year, I thought “All that and preach too?” It seemed overwhelming. It still seems overwhelming!  But then I remembered something I read somewhere.

One of my mentors in ministry taught me to always ask this question when evaluating when discerning if God is calling us to something new. The question: “Is it scary enough?” Is this something that will force you to your knees to wonder how in the world it can happen? Is this something that will force you to depend on God?

Dave told me the term he wants to use for these pastorates (there are several more in the Conference this year) is “Transitional Pastor” rather than “Interim Pastor.” I am not here to be a “bookmark” – just holding the place of someone who is coming later. I am not merely someone who will fill the pulpit on Sunday until the “full-time guy” comes. I am your pastor. You can count on me to be working for you and with you to begin to put into effect the purposes God, and yes. maybe even the Alaska United Methodist Conference, has for Soldotna UMC.

I can tell you this: We are in for a whirlwind ride. And the whirlwind is the Spirit. I believe that with all my heart. I’m pretty sure that the Holy work we do this year is something that will force us to depend on God – and it is indeed, a bit scary.

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Kay

ENEWS May 11, 2012, SOLDOTNA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
United Methodist Women Mad Hatter’s Tea, Saturday, May 12 at 10:30 a.m. Come elegant or Alaskan or ?? Bring your own hat or select one from our treasure chest of hats. Donations of finger foods are appreciated. Bring a friend or neighbor.
 
Shared Joy: 40 some students are graduating at Kenai Alternative High School on May 21. By popular demand Graduation Monday will feature the last biscuits and gravy of the year. Thanks to all who have cooked and donated and prayed for this ministry.
 
More JOY: Two men and a lady joined SUMC last Sunday. We welcome Margaret Bower, Steve Latz, and Hal Smalley to our official membership.  Christina Land and her boys in church after her health challenges.
 
Prayers for: Herb Stettler  had a house fire but he is fine. You may donate to him through SUMC and it will be passed on or can be given at the VFW. Plans are being made to provide living space for him. From Becky Latona: I spoke with Dan Nelson of the Emergency Services and he organizes the support for those who lose their homes to fire. Sounds like Herb will have lots of support and they do want to build him a new cabin/place/home.  Once the funds are gathered, they would probably coordinate the building and furnishing.   Marlys Irwin (262-8712) has agreed to keep us in the loop about what’s happening with Herb.
 
Prayers for: Jack and Audrey Barr who are experiencing health challenges.  Cards may be sent to 35555 Spur Hwy, Box 415, Soldotna.
 
And yet more joys: As a direct result of all of the work of the trustees at the parsonage and church, our electrical usage has gone down drastically. The trustees are still at work and have lots of plans, so stay tuned and consider joining them physically, financially, or prayerfully. Contact Jack Castimore for more information at 283-4609. AND THANK YOU for an anonymous generous donation of $500. to help us update the computers at church.
       
May 15 is the LAST Wacky Wednesday in the Word for this session. Wednesday Night Dinner at the church begins at 5:30 p.m. and all are welcome. Praise choir practice follows at 6 p.m. and you are welcome to join us and make a joyful noise.
 
WANTED: Cooks for Wednesday night dinner next week. Clean Team folks to help us keep our space neat and tidy. Fellowship hosts to bring out the snacks on Sunday and clean up after. Mower List will be posted soon. Flower bed cleaners needed.
 
Relay For Life, June 1 and 2, Soldotna Sports Center North Star UMC has a team and has invited us to join. We especially want to invite ALL SURVIVORS and CAREGIVERS to join us for a dinner and some special stuff on Friday June 1. You can register online. If you have questions or need help, call Susie at 283-7469 or send me an e-mail.
 
MISSION PIGS: Keep filling those pigs for Peace w/Justice Sunday in June. Thanks to your generosity we are supporting some amazing ministries with our 6 Sundays of special giving.
A Disciple’s Path will be continuing next Sunday upon Pastor Kay’s return.
 
2012 Vacation Bible School – SONRISE NATIONAL PARK!  July 16th through July 20th.  There will be classes for children ages 3 years to students who have just completed 5thgrade.  Nursery will be provided for all volunteer’s infants and toddlers.  Registration forms are on the table at the back of the church.  Please return them to Sheri Barton or the office. For information or to volunteer to help with snacks, crafts, music etc. contact Sheri Barton at sheri.barton@acsalaska.net.
 
Our first VIM team will be coming June 10-16. We’re looking for one more place for a couple to stay – preferably close to Soldotna.  Talk to Susie or Hal (hvsmalley@yahoo.com) if you are interested. Their meals are at the church and they’re involved in work & group projects from morning till evening. They are great guests!
 
The church’s number is 262-4657 and e-mail is soldotnaumc@acsalaska.net.ENEWS

ENEWS FEBRUARY 10, 2012 SOLDOTNA UNTIED METHODIST CHURCH
 
Welcome back Pastor Kay will be back on Sunday and we will be celebrating communion with her.  Thanks to all those who did what needed to be done while she was in Oklahoma with her family. The good news is that her grandson Ronnie is back in school and has a medical team that will be following his progress.
 
February 21 Church Council meeting has been moved to Tuesday, February 21 at 6:30 p.m. so plan to come and enjoy Shrove Tuesday Pancakes at 5:30 and then stay for the meeting if you’d like.
 
February 22 Ash Wednesday services at 7 p.m. at Kenai United Methodist Church
 
Special visitors: We were so lucky to have Walt Hays and Joann Shore with us after our Wednesday night dinner. “Our” refurbished sewing machines were seen at work in Guatemala.  PETs (Personal energy transportation) made their way to their owners allowing them to instantly raise the quality of their lives.  Over the years, SUMC has raised enough money for several PETs. 
AND THEN there was the new stuff: the NOKERO lamps and the Hydraid BioSand water filter, water treatment that works and is definitely Appropriate Technology. 
Nokero lamps are primarily meant to provide a safe, clean alternative to the kerosene fuel lanterns currently used by the 1.3 billion people worldwide who lack reliable access to electricity. Kerosene fumes cause many health problems but have been necessary for lighting in homes at night.
The Hydraid® BioSand water filter is a simple filter with no moving parts. The filter combats the leading causes of death and disease in the developing world by reducing parasites, bacteria and viruses found in contaminated water. More than 3.575 million people die each year from drinking unsafe water. One filter is designed to deliver safer water for a family for more than 10 years. Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_vV0qYWbK0E
 
United Methodist Women are meeting Tuesday February 14 th at 10am at the church.  We will have a meeting about where our hearts want to put our efforts and our money in our community.  After the meeting we will gather at Ginger’s in the peninsula mall for a lunch.  All women are welcome. RSVP to Gale Robison at 262-5645  or Susie Smalley at 283-7469.
 
Prayers for…
    Traci Parker as she continues to deal with challenges related to her back.
    Nancy Cranston who recently lost a family member in a car accident.
    Vienna Schmitter-Schrier, a 15 year old friend of SUMC who is going to be receiving         treatment in Ohio for an undetermined illness. She’s the daughter of Chris & Lisa Schmitter/Schrier.

E-News Soldotna United Methodist Church December 1, 2011

Signs of God’s people at work:

Six people went out in near zero weather to spread the Good News (New Testaments) and invite folks to SUMC for Christmas Dinner.

Men from SUMC chopped and delivered firewood to a woman who was in need and a homemade afghan was donated to help keep her warm.

Our benevolent fund helped another family in need and we bought a prescription for a couple who couldn’t afford it.

We hosted 60 first grade Boy Scouts at the church.

We are continuing our Journey to Bethlehem. (Sundays at 9 a.m.)

Thanks to:Sunday’s Advent Super Soup Makers and for those who helped decorate the church and host craft opportunities for the children.

John Benner for making a new name tag hanger and relocating it to the Fellowship Hall.

Bob Littel for creating a cross and flame (UMC Symbol) and hanging it in the entryway and for saving trees from the Parsonage in order to make Advent logs. (Pick your log and candles up on Sunday if you haven’t already)

Cindy Littel for repairing our Crismons and for sharing her story with us.

Coming events:Sunday, Dec. 4 10 a.m. Communion Sunday.It’s “Joseph Sunday” as we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent. If you have not yet turned in your Dedication card, you may bring it with you this week, or mail it. We’ve had a great response. P.S. God has promised to be with us! Awesome!!

Wednesdays, Dec 7 & 15, Wacky Wednesday and Respect & Marriage at 4:30 with dinner at 5:30 and Raise the Praise at 6.

Saturday, Dec. 10 United Methodist Women will meet to sent Christmas Cards and assemble Christmas bags for the homebound.

Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. we’ll be remembering and celebrating SUMC’s 2011 and looking forward to 2012 as we are joined by Rev. Dave Beckett.  (Staff Parish will meet at 2:30)

Complete December Calendar will be sent later this week…

Happy Birthday to Bill Parker on his very special birthday this week! (you ask him)

Prayers for:  Kay’s 5 year old grandson Ronnie who is experiencing SVT episodes (Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) and has passed out 3 times this week.

Perry Johnson who had a pacemaker inserted on Monday

The church’s number is 262-4657 and e-mail is soldotnaumc@acsalaska.net. Pastor Kay’s cell is 529-5128, her e-mail is kayshock@hotmail.com and the parsonage is 262-4958. Join our Facebook Group or visit our website for more information.

Welcome Rev. Kay Shock,  our new pastor for the 2011-2012 year.

SUMMER HUMMER: Please join us for the Summer Hummer Dinner/Auction Fundraiser on Friday, July 15 beginning at 6pm at SUMC.   This event is always fun!  Dinner will begin at 6 and the auction will follow soon after.  You can help in many ways:  donating auction items, participating in the event by helping in dinner preparation or helping with the auction or entertainment and/or attending.   For the $10 ticket fee, you will get dinner and a ticket entered for the grand prize. Child care (RSVP please) will be provided upstairs. If you have questions or would like to help, please contact Troy or Nelma (398-2007).
PASTOR KAY’S COMMENTS:  ”I can’t wait for Sunday! I am excited about sharing God’s word with you. My sermon for Sunday will be “Who Am I?” Scripture readings will include Psalm 139, Ephesians 1:1-14 and the Gospel reading, John 15:7-11. In August we will begin a 4 part series from the book of Acts!”

Dear Family,
I have decided to retire and return to Oklahoma at the end of this Conference year, June 30. Karolann and I have enjoyed our six years here and deeply appreciate the hard work and commitment of so many of the SUMC members. We had always planned to return to Oklahoma when I retired due to the cost of living in Alaska. So the question was not, “Will we return to Oklahoma?” but, “When will we return to Oklahoma.” In our trips to Oklahoma and Texas over the past year it became obvious that we were missing much of the lives of our family and grandchildren by being so far away. While I had always said that I hoped to stay until mandatory retirement. That was conditioned upon the church doing well. I have not provided the pastoral leadership needed to reverse the decline in worship attendance and giving that began in 1996. The church is in need of new pastoral leadership that can provide the needed changes. I am confident that our Conference Superintendent, Dave Beckett, will work closely with our Staff-parish Team to insure that your new pastor will have the skills needed to move the church forward. I will work to help that process in whatever way is deemed helpful. Nelma Treider is the chair of the Staff-parish Team. Members include Bill Parker, John Lommel, Mike Latona, Cossette Kilfoyle, Susie Smalley, Lay Leader, and Troy Castimore, Lay Delegate to Annual Conference. They would welcome any input you might have or concerns you feel need to be addressed as they work with the Conference Superintendent. They will create a profile of the church that will guide Dave as he searches for a new pastor. Grace and peace. Richard.

With Sunday’s agenda coming to a close, the focus of today is to prepare these Wildwood Residents for insertion back into a culture that hasn’t changed over these three days. Many of the men attending the Kairos weekend have made significant choices to change the way they have been living life. To become more anchored in their faith journey, they must continue to work on these issues beginning Monday morning. Our team will work throughout today to give them the tools and the encouragement they need to keep on the journey.

Please continue to pray for these men. Making Christ centered decisions in their lives will be a whole new way of thinking for many of them. The Monday night prayer and share will be important for each of them to get involved with, and this coming Saturday will be crucial as the team returns to the institution for a one day instuctional on how to sustain the changes they have made.

Thanks again for all the prayers, cookies, and agape that has helped these men learn that they are loved by a loving God.